One of the saddest parts of this is I don't expect GW to care. A couple of years back one of original GW writers, and game designers died. Guy created Warhammer Fantasy Battles, and gw didn't even make a single post about it.
Artist John Blanche has died at 78. He was one of the founding fathers of grimdark art and effectively defined the feel of Warhammer 40,000 with his illustrations, such that there's now an entire subgenre of illustration and miniature painting called Blanchitsu that aims to copy his style. He made some of the most iconic images of that universe, including this one:
Rest In Peace King!
The only 40k book I having my possession is The Inquisitor rule book from 2002. John's art is littered throughout the tome it is one of my favorite game books to just flip through.
Easily the biggest influence on the perception of 40K for all of us greybeards and near-greybeards. His illustrations gave us the basis for basically all of 40K and, even though in recent years GW has been moving towards a much cleaner digital art style, still continues to inspire even the shitty modern art. RIP John Blanche
Regina Zindler (1947-2026) who produced a German cultural artifact by pronouncing "Maschendrahtzaun" in an unusual way, picked up by the show TV Total, has passed away
Artist John Blanche has died at 78. He was one of the founding fathers of grimdark art and effectively defined the feel of Warhammer 40,000 with his illustrations, such that there's now an entire subgenre of illustration and miniature painting called Blanchitsu that aims to copy his style. He made some of the most iconic images of that universe, including this one:
RIP to the legend, that's a real shame. I've always viewed Blanche, alongside Karl Kopinski, Adrian Smith, and Clint Langley as having best captured the essence of what 40k is and should be. And of these I think Blanche understood and defined the soul of the universe better than anyone else could.
It's bitterly fitting then that the man who captured the very soul of 40k passes away just as Games Workshop guts that very same soul from the universe he helped to define, just to turn it into a shameless, marvelified goyslop for a quicker quarterly return.
But regardless, his work will live on and continue to outshine all of the corporatised shit those GW faggots put out for years to come.
"The first images of primeval man would concern themselves with hunting scenes, heroic action, mighty beasts, death masks, war paint, fetishes and trophies. Today we see the same sorts of themes represented in punk haircuts, studded leather and even in the imagery employed in films like Bladerunner and Aliens. This is the heritage of Western culture, and that is what I am trying to tap when I paint." - John Blanche, rest in peace.
Artist John Blanche has died at 78. He was one of the founding fathers of grimdark art and effectively defined the feel of Warhammer 40,000 with his illustrations, such that there's now an entire subgenre of illustration and miniature painting called Blanchitsu that aims to copy his style. He made some of the most iconic images of that universe, including this one:
Artist John Blanche has died at 78. He was one of the founding fathers of grimdark art and effectively defined the feel of Warhammer 40,000 with his illustrations, such that there's now an entire subgenre of illustration and miniature painting called Blanchitsu that aims to copy his style. He made some of the most iconic images of that universe, including this one:
Rest in peace, his legacy regarding 40k is second to none, not only in the art department. He practically is Warhammer 40k, next to Jes Goodwin (not throwing shade on Rick Pristley et al. here but you know it's the truth). I love his artwork ever since childhood me opened Second Edition's "War Gear" for the very first time. I wasn't into his artwork as much back then as into some of the other early artists in the books but goddamn if they didn't intrigue me even back then. He perfectly showcased how absolutely alien the world is in the 41st millenium, down to the most quaint doodle he made for a random page printed in a WD or codex, everything he painted shaped that game's universe, even know GW builds on his creations.
I watched Filmdeg's interview with him last year, hearing him speak about and showcasing the box art he made for the old editions hit me so hard in the feels that i almost can't describe it in words:
First Ian Watson (who so perfectly adopted John's artwork into his 40k books, no other 40k author even comes close.), now John. Hope Andy Chambers has some more good years in him.
Rip John Blanche, I really fucking love fighting fantasy and the warhammer artbooks. I got into fighting fantasy for the dumbest reason, cause Hidetaka Miyazaki mentioned it in an interview once. Gorgeous artwork, he will be missed immensely.
In other news, Marjane Satrapi (probably butchering the spelling) died of "sadness"
She was the author of persepolis which is one of the few feminist anything that I like alongside it's sister The breadwinner. RIP, I am even more devastated knowing she died after her husband did last year, those two really must've loved each other.
She was the author of persepolis which is one of the few feminist anything that I like alongside it's sister The breadwinner. RIP, I am even more devastated knowing she died after her husband did last year, those two really must've loved each other.
Today, 22 years ago, Marvin John Heemeyer passed away. He entered public consciousness as the man who valiantly fought against the tyranny of government by means of improvised construction machinery.
happy Killdozer Day
I came here to post this. Persepolis was really well-done and, like you said, one of the few legitimately feminist pieces of media that I genuinely enjoyed. Her family may have been a bunch of communists, but I give her a pass. It's a shame she won't get to see a free and democratic Iran.
I came here to post this. Persepolis was really well-done and, like you said, one of the few legitimately feminist pieces of media that I genuinely enjoyed. Her family may have been a bunch of communists, but I give her a pass. It's a shame she won't get to see a free and democratic Iran.
